Princess Leonor has attended the opening of Spain’s new legislative session for the first time as political controversy continues to swirl.

The heir to the throne, who swore allegiance to the country’s constitution when she turned 18 at the end of October, was at the Cortes in Madrid with her parents, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia.

The opening session comes just days after Pedro Sanchez and his ministers took their oaths in front of King Felipe at the Zarzuela Palace.

Protests against the coalition government formed by Pedro Sanchez have taken place across Spain in recent weeks.

His PSOE party came second in general elections. The leading party, the PP, didn’t have enough seats for a majority and couldn’t form a working coalition. The Spanish Royal Household said that, under the constitution, King Felipe had to ask the second ranking party to try and form an administration.

Since then, there has been debate about the coalition formed by Pedro Sanchez.

Princess Leonor had been given a warm reception when she attended the Cortes on the day she came of age, with a sustained standing ovation after she swore allegiance to the constitution.

The Princess of Asturias was also presented with medals by both houses of the Spanish parliament on the day and she wore them both as she attended the opening session of the legislative session.